We took our first flight with a Little when my oldest daughter was 5 months old. Many nights before our flight took off, I lay awake, stressing about logistics. I was new to installing car seats, to that point, I’d only installed seats under the watchful eye of a CSPT friend. I wasn’t sure I could install her seat correctly in a strange car all by myself.

It turns out I was right. Even after reading the manual for the “travel” seat we’d bought expressly for the trip for the first time right there in the rental car parking lot at the airport with my entire family watching me expectantly during a snowstorm, I didn’t get the seat in correctly at all.

Why We Don’t Gate Check Car Seats

Gate checked car seats get thrown around

Car seats aren’t designed to be thrown around like luggage, they’re designed to protect your child in a crash. The forces that are exerted on your child’s car seat as baggage handlers throw it into luggage holds and onto the tarmac are different than the forces it’s designed to withstand.

This seat was unsafe to use after being gate checked

Pictured here is a seat that was cracked after being gate checked. Learn from my mistake: bring your seat (and install it!) on the plane, or if you must check it, do so in a cardboard box.

If you Must Check the Car Seat

Checking a car seat in a box

There are situations where it’s impossible to bring a child’s car seat onto the plane. Should that be the case, we’d strongly suggest checking that car seat in a cardboard box. Most airlines don’t charge to check a car seat this way. It will keep the car seat safe during your journey.

Oversized baggage claim

Pro tip: car seats checked in a cardboard box are often delivered to the oversized baggage claim.

Choosing A Travel Seat

At the airport with a Britax Boulevard and a Diono Santa Fe

While many families choose a lightweight seat for travel because lightweight is a big plus when you’re on the go, that first trip with my kiddo changed me. My priority in choosing travel seats quickly became to take the one I can install with the least amount of hassle in the largest number of places.

Confession: part of this choice was motivated by my deep-seated, yet irrational fear of installing with seat belts. I’m proud to say that I’ve overcome that fear and mastered the seat belt install.

From using the seat on the airplane to hotel shuttle buses to rental cars and Grandma’s car, a day of travel can often mean installing and re-installing our car seats 4 or more times.

I needed to know I could do that correctly, every time, regardless of the weather or my how many people were in my audience.

That’s translated to traveling with at least one Britax convertible seat until the very sad day when my youngest kiddo outgrew hers.

Their ease-of-use features like premium lower anchor connectors, lightweight shells, and open belt path have made them my go-to travel seat ever since that horrible day in the parking garage. Since that was the same kind of seat we used for years with both kids at home, I am very familiar with the install and use of that seat so I was able to install it in all of those vehicles and all those situations without issue.

Rolling a Graco Contender through the airport

After my oldest daughter outgrew her Britax convertibles, we switched to travelling with a Diono Radian for her for a time. It’s a very narrow seat so it fits in a lot of small spaces and the kiddos could use the tray tables on the airplane since the seat sits so low. Travelling with our Britax Frontier also allowed the child to fully use the tray table but both seats are quite heavy and the Radian isn’t always the easiest seat to install so I sought a lighter seat to travel with.

Lucky for us, the Graco Contender came onto the market and into our lives when I needed it most. My youngest daughter is almost 6 and still has some growing room in her Contender! We’ve taken it on two different trips now; because it’s so lightweight and easy to install with a seat belt, it’s become my favorite travel seat ever.

Getting Around The Airport With A Car Seat

Getting around the airport with the Gogo Kidz Travelmate

The GoGo Kidz Travelmate has been my saving grace through all of these trips. There are additional great car seat travel cart choices on the market now, but when we started travelling with kids, GoGo Kidz was the only option so it’s an old friend now.

When our family expanded to include two Littles, travel became an even bigger challenge. For a while, we just didn’t go anywhere but as our littlest Little grew, we started taking trips again. A combination of the GoGo Kidz Travelmate to wheel one car seat plus putting the second car seat on the stroller got us through the airports.

At The Airport

The Gogo Kidz Travelmate has given my Little a place to sit in the airport since she was little!

I won’t lie. Getting through the airport with all of the gear our Littles seem to require is a pain. There’s no two ways about it. We travel fairly light but even so, the more baggage I can check, the better. The moment I step away from the ticket counter having dropped off even one bag is always a great moment! Many airports offer a Family Lane at the TSA checkpoint. Though there is ALWAYS a solo traveler who is in such a rush, they try to split us up by cutting in front of my kids while I’m putting our items on the conveyor belt in the family lane (seriously, EVERY TIME) most other travelers in the Family Lane are families who are willing to be a little more patient as we go through the line.

Attached to the GoGo Kidz Travelmate, my Britax convertibles did not fit through the security screening. They were taken off to a separate area, where they’re given a very thorough screening so don’t be alarmed if your seat goes off with a TSA agent for a few minutes.

The bonus here is that it’s one less thing to manage as we go through the x-ray machine.

Boarding The Plane

Carrying the car seat off the plane. Not a suitable replacement for weight training.

Our family travels in two basic configurations: both of us with the kids or just me with the kids. When both of us are there, I leave the kids with my partner in the boarding area, then take the car seat and whatever else I can carry down the jetway. I’m usually able to get the seat installed and the Gogo Kidz stored in the overhead bin above us before they all arrive. These are my favorite trips.

Note: I have found that carrying the car seat over my head while walking down the aisle of the plane (hoping desperately that my carry on bag doesn’t hit too many people in the head along the way) is the easiest way to board.

Other note: Our family’s preferred airline is Southwest. Not only do they not consider hockey sticks to be oversized baggage (always a plus when we’re heading to a hockey tournament!), their open seating means we’re able to sit together.

When another airline unexpectedly rebooked our flight just before we took off, the four of us were split up and we had to rely on the kindness of strangers to swap seats so we could sit together. Getting people to do that on a flight to Orlando was nearly impossible — everyone was travelling with their kids, too. We ended up putting our then 5-year old in front of me by herself, while I begged to sit with the toddler and my partner enjoyed a luxury seat alone a few rows back.

Waiting to take off!

When I’m travelling without another adult, I have the Littles walk down the plane’s aisle ahead of me. This involves a lot of coaxing (though, less is required as they’re getting older), encouragement, and the vain hope that I won’t trip on anything while we walk.

My oldest daughter is able to find our seats. Once we’ve found the row, I have the kids huddle on the aisle seat while I install the car seat in the window seat, then stow our bags.

FAA Approval

FAA Approval Label

Car seats that are approved for use on airplanes have a label stating this. Before you board the plane, take a moment to see where your seat’s sticker is. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck in the jetway, holding all of your stuff, turning the car seat over and over to try to find the label while your kids run amok down the plane’s aisle.

Installing The Seat On The Plane

Airplane seat belt with a locking latchplate

Airplane seat belts are lap belts with a locking latchplate. Installing a car seat with one of these is pretty straightforward — just thread the belt through the correct belt path (rear facing for a rear facing car seat, forward facing belt path for a forward facing seat), then pull the tail end of the seat belt straight out until it’s tight. That’s all there is to it.

Installing a car seat on an airplane isn’t exactly the same as installating in a vehicle. For example, most rear facing only seats will be installed without the base, and Britax ClickTight seats have different instructions for airplane installation. Take the time to read through the car seat manual before your trip to find out.

Sometimes, we suggest requesting a seat belt extender to adjust the placement of the buckle under or behind the child. We had a flight attendant refuse to provide one, saying it wasn’t approved for that use. The flight attendant couldn’t provide the regulation prohibiting this use, but just the same, wouldn’t provide one to us. It’s possible that you’ll encounter a flight attendant who attempts to enforce a regulation that’s counter to what you know.

The flight attendant has the power to allow you and your family to travel on that flight. So if you’re faced with a request that you don’t agree with, whether it’s about a seat belt extender, rear-facing an older child on the plane, sometimes even just using a car seat on the plane, the flight attendant has the final say. In many instances, your only recourse is to politely provide proof that FAA regulations allow for this or exit the plane and try to get on another flight.

Before you fly, arm yourself with a copy of the FAA regulations on car seat use so you’re prepared to politely inform any flight attendants who have questions about your child’s seat and how you’re using it.

Where Do I Put The Car Seat?

Britax Boulevard on the airplane

FAA regulations require that the car seats installed on airplanes not block the exit route of adjacent adults. This usually translates to the seat being installed in the window seat. Car seats can also not be installed in the exit row or the row in front of or behind the exit row.

Will The Car Seat Fit On The Plane’s Seat?

In most cases, yes. We get a lot of questions about this on our Facebook group, and with good reason. Airplane seats are not generously sized and some car seats have flared sides that make them quite wide in places. The good news is that most car seats have a base that’s narrower than those flared sides so you’re likely to fit the seat onto the airplane’s seat, even if it means that your shoulder shares space with the flared portion of the car seat.

Travel With Two Littles And One Adult

CARES Harness

Our other family travel configuration is me with just the kiddos. It’s often to exciting destinations like Grandma’s. Since we go there on a regular basis, once my oldest daughter was able to sit properly in the airplane’s lap belt, I checked her car seat in the original box, then used it once we arrived at our destination. I left that seat behind for her to use while we’re in town.

This has been a lifesaver. Grandpa just loads it into the car when they come to pick us up and I only have to deal with one seat on the flight.

In all the trips I’ve taken with just my kiddos, strangers (mostly very kind flight attendants) have only offered to help us a handful of times. So as you’re packing, it’s safe to assume that you’ll be handling everything you need to carry yourself.

In Case Of Delays

Graco TurboBooster TakeAlong makes a handy seat in the airport

Sometimes, things don’t go as planned and your family ends up spending a bonus night in a city that was only supposed to be a stopover. Bringing your child’s car seat on the plane (or in the overhead bin if it’s a booster seat) guarantees that there’s no panic if you should find yourself in a hotel shuttle van in a strange city in the middle of the night. This happened to two of our admins recently — both of us were relieved to have a safe option at the ready.

Ride Safer Travel Vest

When my kiddos were younger, we’d bring an additional restraint on our trips — Ride Safer Travel Vest for my youngest kiddo with us on the plane. It’s not yet approved for airline use, so we stored it in our carry on bag during the flight.While the RSTV is not a primary seat, we brought it along in case one kid needs to ride in Grandma’s car or for unexpected hotel shuttle trips if our travel plans go horribly wrong and we get stuck somewhere overnight.

When we visit family for an extended period, we find ourselves using the RSTV for one reason or another at least once a week. Because they require a fair bit of manual dexterity to thread the belt, these aren’t the best choice for everyday use for caregivers who suffer from arthritis.

Travel With Older Littles

Littles sporting their own backpacks make travel easier!

Today, my oldest is 10. We travel with a backless booster for her and a Graco Contender convertible car seat for her 5-year-old little sister. After trying a few different models of backless boosters, we’ve become big fans of the Graco Turbobooster for this purpose. It’s simple and lightweight enough that she can carry it herself. We take it on to the plane; it stores in the overhead bin while we’re in flight.

She also tends to bring it into the house or hotel room and watch TV while sitting on it, so it’s quite useful.

It was kind of the Holy Grail when both kids were old enough to wear their own backpacks on the trip. I still packed some snacks and a few things for them to do on the plane, but mostly, they were in charge of their own in-flight entertainment. For my littlest kiddo, this meant half the contents of her dollhouse, inspiring our friend to exclaim, “OF COURSE YOU HAVE A FRIDGE IN HERE!”

But that fridge kept her happy and entertained on the airplane. So she may bring it on any trip she’d like.

So Many Options

The headaches of travel are worth it when we finally see Grandparents!

Travelling with your Littles presents such a challenge — will you bring everything they need and not too many things that they don’t? Will you be able to get the car seat onto the plane? Will the kiddo be comfortable?

Once you land, will you be able to uninstall the car seat from the plane and get off in time to make your connection? All of these questions inspire such angst in even the most seasoned traveler. Every time I hear the ‘bong’ sound indicating that it’s time to deplane, my heart starts to race in anticipation of all the things that need to happen in the next 10 minutes. And that’s after flying numerous times with my kiddos!

I know it sounds trite, but the more planning you can do before you hit the airport, the smoother it will go. Hopefully some of the things that have worked for us offer your family some solid options for travelling with your Littles. Our original travel post has offers an additional perspective with more options.

Suggested Travel Seats

Families who are on the go often ask us which car seat is the best for airplane travel. Just like seats used exclusively in the car at home, the best travel seat is the one caregivers can install and use properly every time. Important features for travel seats can be a little different than stay-at-home car seats so we’ve compiled a few key things to keep in mind:

Your comfort level with installing the seat

How heavy of a seat you’re able to carry through the airport

How many comfort features your child needs

Open vs. closed belt path. For forward facing installations, an open belt path can place the airplane seat belt’s buckle directly behind the child’s back. The ONLY option on this list with a closed belt path is the Graco Contender.

Other factors specific to your situation

We’ve taken these factors into account and put together a few suggestions for travel seats. They’re listed in order of retail price, lowest to highest. This list is mainly convertible car seats — we’ve found that many caregivers prefer to travel with this type of seat but combination and multimode car seats can be great options too!

Lightweight Car Seats

Cosco Scenera NEXT

Cosco Scenera NEXT — This seat is lightweight and inexpensive. It’s an excellent option for travel for younger rear-facing kiddos.

Evenflo SureRide — Lightweight, easy to install, and long lasting. However, it has a tall shell and may not fit rear facing on many aircraft.

Slightly Heavier Car Seats With More Ease-of-Use Features

Graco Contender

Graco Contender — The Contender is an all-time favorite travel seat at CSFTL. It’s fairly lightweight, though heavier than the Scenera NEXT or SureRide. It boasts a no reathread harness, a straightforward seat belt installation, and the Holy Grail of airplane installation — a closed forward facing belt path that keeps the airplane seat belt’s buckle away from the child’s back.

Britax G4 Marathon

Britax G4 Convertibles — G4 convertible car sets are heavier than the Scenera NEXT, SureRide, or Contender, but install easily both on the airplane and upon arrival. However, the open belt path can sometimes place the airplane’s buckle right behind the child’s back when installed forward facing. Many kiddos find this uncomfortable.

Graco Milestone

Graco Milestone — The Milestone is a solid choice for airplane use. At close to 20 lbs, it’s on the heavier side for a travel seat but it installs without too much fuss in all modes upon arrival. It’s a nice option for older children who need a high back booster at their destination — install it in harnessed mode on the plane, then quickly convert it to booster mode upon arrival! The open belt path can sometimes place the airplane’s buckle right behind the child’s back when installed forward facing. Many kiddos find this uncomfortable.

Heavy, Fully-Featured Car Seats

Diono Radian

Diono Radian — this low-profile car seat can sometimes fit down the plane’s aisle and sits low enough that the child can use the tray table when installed forward facing. Rear facing can be a challenge, since many airplane seats are too cramped for a rear facing Radian to fit. Installing the Radian can be a challenge so practice with this seat before you fly!

Heavy, Fully-Featured Seats That Are Fairly Easy To Install in Vehicles

Chicco Nextfit

Chicco Nextfit — this is a very heavy seat for travel, but the small front to back space and seat belt lockoffs make it extremely easy to install at your destination.

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Disclaimer

All CSFTL website contributors are Nationally Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians. However, our reviews and educational materials are OUR opinions and are not that of Safe Kids, NHTSA, or anyone other than us. We are not liable for anything anyone says or does as a result of reading our opinions on this site.

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